Category Archives: Family Law

Social media and its various platforms may be a newer concept in the history of the world, existing for about fifteen years, but it’s been around long enough that the dangers and downsides are quite apparent. There are countless recent examples of old tweets, Facebook comments, Instagram photos, and other postings, coming back to haunt the poster. Whether it be offensive content, incriminating photos, or other posts, it seems every week there is a different athlete, celebrity, or other famous person being taken to task for their questionable social media posts and content. Whether or not this scrutiny is Continue Reading…

Divorce Law and The Case of the Embryo. In most divorces, the two main areas of concern are addressing the custody of any children and dividing any property the parties own. It seems obvious that these two areas do not generally overlap, but with advances in reproductive technology, there is the potential for overlap in regards to frozen embryos. Key questions revolving around embryos are being litigated in Michigan courts that could have far reaching repercussions involving the future of frozen embryos in divorce matters. Laws are often reactive in nature and evolve to address issues as they …come up… Continue Reading…

Often we have client’s who wonder, why doesn’t the court want to talk to my child or why aren’t my child’s words taken seriously. As we all know, even for adults, interviews conducted in a legal context are often a stressful undertaking for anyone who must go through the process, but this fact is especially true for children. Whether it be in a custody case, a criminal proceeding, or a civil dispute, the underdeveloped child mind can find it difficult to understand exactly what is happening or the reasons behind why they have been put in the position they find Continue Reading…

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Serving the Millennial Client

Millennials are the largest living generation in the U.S. and currently make up 1/3rd of the workforce. As more millennials enter the workforce, their need for attorneys will increase. As their need for attorneys increases, attorneys will be faced with difficult task of adapting to a clientele who are drastically different from the previous generations. There are two primary differences an attorney will need to address in serving the millennial client: the millennial DIY mind frame and the millennial’s preference for technology.

As Casey C. Sullivan put it in “How to Win Millennial Clients,” Millennials are able to and want to pursue DIY approaches to legal issues, such as submitting their own legal forms. Millennials are therefore more likely than previous generations to use attorneys as their second option when faced with a legal dilemma. This is due in part to the economic recession beginning in 2007 which shaped the millennial approach to finances. It is also due in part to the fact that millennials are the most educated generation in history.

Ultimately, the combination of these factors encourages millennials to first attempt to solve their legal issues themselves before contacting an attorney. Millennials and Technology. The millennial’s technological ability is also a factor affecting not only how attorney’s market to potential new clients, but how attorneys communicate with their clients and receive payment. Millennials spend copious amounts of time on social media. Consequently, it has become the primary platform from which millennials receive advertising. As follows, attorneys looking to tap into the millennial market should promote themselves through social media. However, promoting oneself on social media can come with its own set of struggles. For instance, advertising on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram requires tip-toeing the fine line between accessible and professional. Nonetheless, attorneys looking to tap into the millennial market should advertise their services by creating a strong social media presence.

One of the key ways to increase social media presence is to keep a well-maintained website where clients reviews are accessible and can be shared on other platforms. Millennials place a high value on client reviews and are quick to skip over a business with a low ranking. In fact, a low ranking on an attorney’s website can be damning. It is therefore more important than ever before to make sure your clients are satisfied with your services, a difficult job in the highly contentious and often unpredictable field of law. The use of technology has also affected how millennial clients will communicate with their attorney. The instant nature of social media has produced a generation that wants quick, readily-available answers and updates. That combined with the fact that millennials prefer communicating via email or text rather than in person or on the phone creates a need to rework the in-person client appointment model. Rather than phoning the client or having the client come into the office for a meeting, attorneys may have to inform clients of the progress on their cases by providing updates through secure online websites the client can access at any time.

Attorneys may also have to make other small changes to address the millennial inclination toward technology. For instance, technology has made millennials favor online purchases or payments as opposed to mailing in checks. Thus, attorneys interested in tapping into the millennial market should offer payment options online. The attorneys at Kathryn Wayne-Spindler & Associates are experienced attorneys who change with the times to meet the needs of their clients. Contact Contact the Milford, Michigan law office of Kathryn Wayne-Spindler & Associates at 248-676-1000 for assistance. The attorneys of Kathryn Wayne-Spindler & Associates practice family law throughout Southeastern Michigan including Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Genesee and Livingston counties as well as four mid-Michigan counties Clare, Gladwin, Ogemawand Roscommon. The attorneys handle cases in Milford; Highland; Hartland; White Lake; Wixom; Commerce; Walled Lake; Waterford; West Bloomfield; Linden; Fenton; Flint; Grand Blanc; Holly; South Lyon; New Hudson; Howell; Clare; Gladwin; Houghton Lake; Higgins Lake; and many more Michigancommunities.

There are few professions more vilified than that of the divorce attorney (except maybe used car salesman.) Insulting lawyers is practically a sport. We hear lawyer jokes in line at the grocery store. There are comics and Facebook pages designed to malign attorneys. The interesting dichotomy is that if you listen to our clients, you hear exactly the opposite – that we were there for them during one of the hardest times of their lives. We supported them. Answered their questions. Advocated for them in the courtroom and genuinely cared about them. We gave them their best chance at moving Continue Reading…

We field many calls in our busy family law practice about grandparent rights. Some want to know if they can collect child support payments if they are helping raise their grandkids. Some grandparents want to know the options if they disapprove of parents’ decisions. Others wonder how to protect their relationship with the grandchildren after the parents divorce. The possible scenarios are so varied it’s difficult to address them all in one blog but there are three standards that Michigan courts take into account when considering a grandparent rights case. For more detailed information about specific cases, contact the Law Continue Reading…

It’s the right time for Limited Scope Representation in Michigan Currently, Michigan Legal Ethics standards do not allow attorneys to represent clients for parts of their cases. In other states, Limited Scope Representation enables clients to get help with just certain parts of their legal matters. For instance, in Missouri, a potential client could handle most of the document filing themselves and only work with an attorney for court appearances. According to the Missouri Lawyers Help article, 7 Things you should know about Limited Scope Representation, “LSR is an efficient way for clients who cannot afford the cost of hiring Continue Reading…

A look at Michigan House Bill 4691 The Michigan House Bill 4691, proposing changes to the Child Custody Act of 1970, was introduced on May 31, 2017 and has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary. (Citations below show proposed changes indicated by strikethroughs and the suggested language amendments in bold, all-caps.) The latest proposed changes to the Michigan child custody laws include the very title of the act. According to Michigan House Bill 4691 introduced by Reps. Runestad, Kelly, VanSingel, Lucido, Hauck, Cole and Tedder reads, “Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Continue Reading…

When addiction threatens marriages, post nuptials may be the answer Divorce Attorney Kathryn Wayne-Spindler shares how post nuptials may save marriages plagued by addiction. She explains that many people in a relationship with someone burdened with addiction, don’t want to get divorced but feel pressured into it to protect their finances. Some clients want to stay with a spouse who struggles with addiction so they can support him/her. But they worry that the addict may make choices that impact their shared income or savings. With a post nuptial agreement, the supportive spouse may be able to protect the retirement funds Continue Reading…

I hear a vast variety of legal questions during my free family law consultations with potential clients. Some are individual, but some seem to follow reoccurring themes. The following are the top 6 frequently asked legal questions answered in a blog: Are you a Tiger? Other variations on this question include, “Are you aggressive?” And “Are you a Warrior Lawyer?” The gist is that people tend to want a fighter on their side. When they are feeling uncertain and vulnerable in the face of a new and contentious legal situation, they want someone who is able to fight for them. Continue Reading…